PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers returned home and knocked off the Toronto Raptors 130-120 on Saturday to put an end to a quick 2-game skid. The Sixers are now 6-3 on the season and will look to build off this performance when they host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday on the second night of a back-to-back.
Maxey had 31 points and seven assists with four rebounds to lead Philadelphia to a much-needed win to feel good about things again. Joel Embiid added 29 points, six rebounds, and four assists, Trendon Watford had 20 points, 17 rebounds, and 10 assists, and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 19. Quentin Grimes hopped off the bench and poured in 11 points while VJ Edgecombe had 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
Here are the biggest takeaways following the win:
Edgecombe shows maturity
The Raptors gave Edgecombe a lot of trouble in the early part of this one. The No. 3 overall pick had a tough time finding any rhythm as he shot just 2-for-9 through the first three quarters, but his presence was felt. He was fantastic on the defensive end as he battled with Raptors guards Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett and he was attacking the glass along with making plays with his passing. Any other young player would have hung their head and let it affect every part of their game. Not Edgecombe. He stepped up and made play after play before getting going in the fourth as he finished with seven points in the final frame.
“I mean, I think that exactly that,” coach Nick Nurse said of Edgecombe. “Even though he wasn’t shooting the 3 that well. I thought he probably had the chance to attack more when he was taking those 3s. He had a matchup. He probably could have hit the paint on, but he was playing D, he was rebounding, he was challenging shots, and then we kinda got him set up. They were in such a full denial of Tyrese, when he turned the corner, he had to go into that gap and he just exploded into it two or three times when it really mattered.”
Oubre provides a big lift
The Sixers received big nights from Maxey, Watford, and Embiid, but Oubre really continues to give Philadelphia a little bit of everything. He shot 8-for-15 from the floor, gave the Sixers another big lift on the defensive end, and continues to just fly under the radar a bit when it comes to his production. Philadelphia would not be in the position it is if it weren’t for Oubre stepping up and giving the Sixers this type of effort on a nightly basis.
“I think Kelly’s been really outstanding,” Nurse stated. “You saw him. He was fighting Ingram most of the night. He’s done that consistently where he’s got one of the better scorers in the league or on the other team and he just keeps working and working. He’s been really good. He’s done a good job of playing physical and he’s done much better at just being solid. Keeping himself in front of his man. Challenging shots. They’re going to make some, but he just keeps at it over the course of the game and ends up with a good defensive game.”
Watford steps in
The Sixers turned to Watford in the starting lineup for the first time in the 2025-26 season and he delivered with his first career triple-double. There truly is so many different things he can bring to the table as he is somebody who has a unique skillset at his size and his versatility is a huge key to what the Sixers want to do–which he mentioned in an exclusive interview with Sixers Wire. As far as his success against the Raptors, the 5-year forward out of LSU pointed to the rhythm he was able to come up with.
“I got the news that I was starting and then pretty much just got in a flow early,” Watford explained. “I was able to make some plays and then sorta kept going, man. I mean, 36 minutes. Most minutes I’ve played this season, but like I said. Just able to get in a good flow, get in a good rhythm, and then kept it going.”
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 3 biggest takeaways for Sixers following win over Raptors to end skid
